Filing apparatus



' Jan. 3, 1950 R. P. SCHOLFIELD FILING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1 946 Jan. 3', 1950 R. P. SCHOLFIELD' 2,493,167

- FILING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 FILING APPARA'EUS Richard P. Scholfield, New ork ,*N.'Y,, ,assignor to Wheeldex ManufacturingfCo, Inc a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1946, Serial-No.-; 68 2,9 49

15 Claims. (Cl. ;1 29 1 6) ,The present invention .relates to rotaryflling equipment of the type wherein a plurality of fil- 'ing cards are .removably secured upon the per- Tiphery of a filing drum, for ready access .for inspection or posting, by rotation of the drum, to bring selected cards quickl to a positionadja- Ice nt the operator.

The invention has to do primarily :withrelatively small, portable rotary, files .adaptedtqbe positioned upon a desk or. table andto be moved from ,place ,to place as. ,desired.

A primary object of the-invention is. to simplify constructions of this.type,,so that they mayibe manufactured at less cost .and :therefore..distrib'uted more widely, yet without sacrificing any of the advantages offmore complicated ,andex- .pensive filing devicesheretoforeain. use.

A further object of the inventionis to proyide small rotary files of this type which-1are s irr pler, stronger, more long lasting, and lesslikely toget out of order than previous devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which particularly lends itself to manufacture by molding process, us n plastic materials. To this end, the-invention provides .a construction consisting essentiallyof only three major. molded parts, the other.parts.employed being standard articles of commerce,,such, as

shafts, washers, nuts, screws and the like.

Thus, the invention aims to provide animproved rotary filing drum, of ,small tointermediate size, which is extremely simple in construc- ,tion and which canbe assembled in mass production with maximum ease from only aiew specially molded parts. The invention also incorporates a numberyof features. covered by prior patents ,owned bythe assignee of the present applicationandin, a number .of respects, constitutes specificzimprovements thereon, namely Patents Nos. 2,046,655, .July 7,1936; 2,231,029, Feb. 11,1941;Re; 22:;765, ,June 21, 1946. In the accompanying drawings, aspecific embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes .of illustration, but it must be understoodthat .the invention is not limited to the details shown therein anddescribed below.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in eleva- .tion showing a drum and one form ofsuitable supporting structure; 7 r

Figure 2' an e d leva iq ihe amr xe ibr'oken away, and ith the support omitted, jlopke m arentbinew V Figure, 3 isanaxial sectionof the rim element shown in ,Figure .1';

Figure 4 is an ,end .vievplookingirom the left of Figure 3 Figure 5.is ,an endview taken from the rig hthand end ofQEigtiie 1, withithe drum head re- ,moved;

Figure 6.is a sideelevationi and sectional view of ampdified-fmm rename-and drum head;

i Figure 7. is a side elevation; ofthe modified axle, with apart broken: away, and

,Figure 8isafikleyatiomoiawasher adapted for .use.withthdmcdified axle.

- ThefilingIdrum assembly of the present vinventi on preferably comprises a stationary shaft Ill having areduced. portion 11,,terminating {at pm endin a; threaded.endgoortionI I2 and'at the ,other. inaradial shoulder-l3." The ends of the shaft are 'drilled and. tappedas atl l; J5, fonzthe reception or ,screws- 1 -I 6, =4 1,, 1 extending through supporting end plates I 8 5 I 9, extending upwardly from a suitablebase '20. A, fibre spacing, sleeve l9 may baemployed, surrounding the shaft, between the adjacent drum'headand. the endmember 19. Ityvillgbe understood that theshaft I0 is supported.againstirotation by thescrews or ,bolts l'6 ,:;i'l, which clamppthe ends of the shaft ,tothe supports l8 and 19.

The filing drum comprises only :four major parts twoof which are identical, i. e., drum head members 2|, 22, a rim member 23 and a clutch and-brake core-24. Eachof the identical drum aheads comprises a central aperture 25, a central, .outwardlyprojecting :annular disk or web 26, a cylindrical-shoulderedportion .21 and a radially extending peripheral flange-28. As noted a bove, ,eachofltheseq-head members is adapted to be .made :of ,moldedplastic.material, and one set of -dies will suffice forthe. production of both.

-The=rim 23.comprises a cylindrical portion 3 0 haying a card retaining rail 3] "formed integrally atherewith, proj ecting' outwardly therefrom and extending *circumferentially" around the same. --The rail, including its attaching web and rail head, .may have a-..cross'-sctional -shape of the -k-ind-wshown and described in my priorpatent,

Re. 22,765, June 21, 1946.

-{Ihe rim also. is provided with an integral, circumferentially. extending inwardly projecting ring '32 having. formed therein a plurality of radial,- outwardlypmjecting pockets 33, closed at ,their inner ends bya-fiange 134.and open at-their ,putenends. vIt l c ldbe notedthat the flange 34 extends, y,peyondthei inner. diameter .35 items-.3

A suitable number of axially extending enlargements or ribs 35, 31 and 38, formed integrally with the rim, extend from the ring 32 or flange 34, toward the opposite end of the rim, but terminate a distance therefrom equal to the distance between the outer face of the ring 32 and the adjacent end of the rim.

As noted in Figure 1, the end portions 40, 4| of the rim, projecting axially beyond the ribs 38- 38 and the ring 32 are the same length as, and snugly fit upon, the shouldered portion 21 of each drum head. The latter are secured in place by suitable screws 42, extending through countersunk holes in the drum head, into the ends of the enlargements 36--3B and into the circumferential rib 32, in the spaces between the pockets 33.

The clutch core 24 has an axial bore 45 corresponding to the diameter of the reduced portion II of the shaft 1 0, and is provided with an axially elongated hub 46, having an external diameter equal to the diameter of the non-reduced portion of the shaft l0, and equal to the diameter of the aperture 25 in the drum head members 2 I, 22.

The opposite end of the hub preferably abuts a friction washer surrounding the reduced portion ll of the shaft and lying against the radial shoulder I3. A knurled nut 48, threaded on the end portion l2 of the shaft applies endwise pressure to the hub and forces the same against the friction washer 41, backed up by the shoulder The periphery of the clutch core 24 is provided with a plurality of recesses, formed by inclined,

flat portions 50, extending from the periphery 5i inwardly to curved bottoms 52 and radial shoulders 53. As shown in Figure 5, the periphery 5i of the clutch core has only a slight clearance with the inner circumference of the inwardly proiecting clutch ring 32. A roller 55 having a radius slightly less but substantially equal to the depth of each recess on the periphery of the clutch core 2 is disposed in each of the pockets 33 in the clutch ring 32. These rollers may be made of steel, or preferably, of rubber, to provide quietness in operation and a soft touch.

Annular rings 51, 58 may be adhesively or otherwise secured to the end faces of the drum heads,

serving the dual purpose of covering the countersunk screws 42 and acting as name plates, carrying trade marks, patent numbers and the like. The rings may be made of sheet metal or any other suitable material.

When the parts are assembled as indicated in Figure 1, the left hand drum head22 is journalled for rotation on the non-reduced portion ill of the shaft and the right hand drum head is journalled on the extended hub portion 45 of the clutch core 24. The parts are secured together as a unit by the aforementioned screws 42 andare restrained against axial movement on the shaft by the sleeve l9 and by the drum head 2|, interposed between the clutch core 24 and the inner radial face of the nut 48. The desired frictional resistance to at the top position. Hence, when the drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, Figures 2 and 5, the rollers will ride up the inclined bottoms 50 of the uppermost recesses and will be carried around in the associated pockets 33 in the inwardly projecting clutch ring 32, thus permitting free rotation of the drum in that direction, without imparting rotation to the clutch core 24. If an attempt is made to rotate the drum in the opposite direction, however, the rollers will drop down into the bottom of the upper clutch core recesses, against the shoulders 53, and will jam between those shoulders and the side walls or corners of the pockets 33, thus preventing rotation of the drum in the latter direction, unless the clutch core 24 is also rotated, against the resistance of the friction washer 41.

The modified form of axle shown in Figures 6 and 7 is preferred in some cases, for the sake of economy, since it is of the same diameter from end to end, requires less metal, and does not have a reduced end portion. Instead, the axle 6D is of uniform diameter except for a circumferential channel 6|, adapted to receive a C-shaped spring washer 62, which may be snapped in place by passing the open side 63 thereof over the bottom of the channel Bl. A brass washer 64 and a fiber washer 65 are backed up by the C-shaped washer 62 and, take the place of the shoulder l3 and washer 41 in the first form of the invention.

The outer threaded end 66 of the axle 6D is provided with a milled out portion, leaving a flat surface 61 at the outer end thereof. A washer 68 having a D-shaped opening 69 is non-rotatably mounted upon the end 56 of the shaft, with the flat portion 10 of the opening registering with the fiat portion 61 of the shaft end. The washer 68 is of an overall diameter equal to the outside diameter of the hub H of the drum head 2|. The interposition of this non-rotatable washer on the shaft between both the end face of the clutch core hub and the drum head hub and the knurled adjusting nut 12 prevents the transmission of rotational forces from the clutch core or drum head to the nut, and thereby eliminates any possibility of the adjusted position of the nut being changed inadvertently. The washer 68 is preferably of an anti-friction material, so that it does not interfere with the rotation of the drum, the latter being controlled as previously described.

With an axle of the type shown in Figures 6 and '7, the drum head at the opposite end to the one shown will have a central hole of smaller diameter or, if desired, a separate ring may be pressed into the larger central eye, to reduce its diameter and to make it correspond to the shaft diameter.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved, extremely simple, inexpensive, readily manufactured and assembled filing drum, which may be rotated freely in one direction, but which is restrained against rotation in the opposite direction, in the absence of deliberate turning force in that direction.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularit in the foregoing specification, it must be understood that it is not limited to the details shown in the accompanying drawings and described above, but covers all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft having a radial shoulder and a reduced portion adjacent thereto, a pair of spaced drum heads mounted for rotation coaxially of the shaft, a cylindrical rim carried by the heads and having a card retaining rail projecting from its periphery, a clutch element in the space a enabetweensaia hea-ds onane reacssa iisinoa bstniir shaft means"frictionall restrainffigsaid er ribagainst" rotation on sem -portion ofit hfi ft, and an overrunningi connection he-tween "1d clutch element an'd the rimrpermittin'g otationof 5 thewdrum invone direction ann frictionally re: strained rotation in'the' other.

2. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising 'a stationary--shaft,-awpair-or spaced' drum heads mounted for rotationcoax-ially ofethe shaftflaitw lindrica1 --rim* carried by the heads 'andthavingi'a" card'retaining rail'-projecting outwardiyefrom its" periphery; a clutch -elernent mounted bn*andapro jecting outwardly from said'shaftintoiclose=prox= imityto the inner surfacerofvsaid riinyniansi'for" applying to-an eIidz-face-Of said" clutch--'eleme'nt* frictional-r resistance to rotation relatlveqto "the? shaft; and an overrunning connection 'between' the clutch element and theinner surface orthe rim-permitting -freej=-rotat ion of -'therdrum -im one direction and -frictionally restrained rotation in theother; 1

- 3. A rotary; filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft having a threadedsection, a-pa-irof spaced drum headsmountedior rotation coax ially of theshaft, a cylindrical rim-carri'ed by the heads and having acard retaining'rail projecting outwardly from its periphery,- a -=clutchelement rotatably' mounted a on, restrained against axial movement with respect 110, and-projectingwutgqo wardlyfrom -said -shaft= into proximity tc the inner; surface of-said rim, anut onisaid-threaded section oi-;' the shaftfor applyingtoan end face of said clutch element frictional resistance. to rotation relative to the shaft; andan -overrunning-- connection between the clutch ;e1ement and the inner surface of" the rim permitting free: rotation of the drum in one direction relative to said clutch element and frictionally restrained rotation' in the other direction with said @el'ment 4. A rotary filing druinlas'sernbly comprisingia shaft non-rotatably supported{at-its apai r of spaced; shouldered dru'rn heads mounted for; rotation coaxially of \the shaft, a cylindrical I rim 4 carried'by'i the 'sliouidr's lofuth heads hav outwardly projecting'l integral, cardfr 'l on its peripheryfand. an inwardly projecting fla -e "spaced "missed aceint' misses; the

head, cooperating "witlY'the f a "jandlsai'dfrictional eiemestgpermiaingnee-retaine tl i on'e"di'rection and restrained rdtatidr'i. n'Tth'f other.. 7 g

5. "A'"rotary "filing driir'n' assembly comprising a stationary shaft havinga; -radial:;shou1der and a 0 reduced end portion adjacent thereto, a clutch core on the reducedportion" of th siiaft haiiing an elongated, axially projecting hiibl nfeafis forcing the-coreagainst"the shoulder-"and frictionally restraining the core against rotation on 5 the shaft; "a pair of drum headsfone journal the shaft and 'the' other bn' tlfiiub extension, a cylindrical rim carried by the heads, having an outwardly projecting, circumferential card retaining rail and an inwardly projecting flange adjacent to but spaced from the latter drum head and partially enclosing said clutch core, and additional clutch means confined by the flange and the adjacent drum head establishing overrunning connection between the clutch element and tneumier surface ofthe'rinii rmitting rre" tation of the drum in bi'iedirec'ti'on' and ffictiin ally restiaiiied rotation in-the other:

- 63-A-"rotary filing drum-assembly "compri ing a stationary "shaft having 'a radial" sh'ould'ef "and "a reuimedportion adjacent thereto terminatiri in a threadedenii portion;a clutclicorpiitlie' du 5d=snafr p'ortiom' having an elongated hiibj extendingmward the threaded end portion fafid having an outside "diametere'qual to the non-re? duced shaftdia'mete'r', anut'onth'e thraded portio'rr'adapt'ed 'to" apply "axial force-tothehhb 'to restraihrotation thereof, afili'ng' drumjournalle'd on' 'the shaft and hub extension; "having an "out weirdly projecting card"retainingrail 'uponits ripl ie'ry'and ovi'riinning clutch eleirieiitsfa's o ciated" with its interior surface cooperatingwith' the lutcn-eore; permitting" free rotation of'tne' druiii-inoiie directionan'd frictionai'ly restiaiiied" rotation'in the otherdire'ctionj 7.: A 'rot" yfiiing dru ssembly cornprisiilig af stationary shafthavi'ng' a radial shoulder and"a=" reduced portion adjacent ther'etb," terhiina'tingin atlflddedefidfioitibn; a chlt'ch core "'on the redii'ced snarl; portion' having an'elong'at'ed hubex tending toward the threaded er'idportion' of' an outside diameter equalto the nongreduced shaft diameter, a nut? on' the threaded portion adapted to' apply ax'i'al force to the hub, friction producing" means between the endof the hub and the show-- der', a' pair' 'or'drunr headsmounted on thesna'ftand -hub extension, respectively, a 'cylindricalrim carried by" the drum" heads having 'an' Q outwardly 1 projecting card retainin 'rail and an inwardly i projecting flange a'dia'cent one end of saidclutch core; and'a plurality of rolle'rsconfined in the space between theflangeand-theadjacent drum head,:-establishing overrun'ning connection between -the" clutch core and "the adjacent inner surfaceof the drumri'm; permitting ire'erota'tionof the drum inone direction and'fri'ctionally re'-" strained rotationin the" other.

8i A' rotary filing "drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft having a "radial shoulder anda r reduc'ed portion adjacent theretoterriiinatingin a" threaded end portion; a clutch core on the re duced--shaft-'- portion having anend face re-' strained' agaiinst axial movement by said shoulder I and an elongated hub extending toward the" threadedend, a nut-on thethreade'dshaft por tiqnadapted-to urge the core toward-the *shoul der, a cylindrical"-drum-journailed at its ends upon-the shaft'and hub extension'and having card retaining means on-its' periphery, said dru'ni having upon its innersurface 'overrunning clutch means cooperating with said core,permitting free rotation of the drum relative to the'core in one direction-but lacking the drum to'the core upon rotation in the other direction.

m drumforf usein a rotary file including a stationary shaft; said drum comprising-two sub;- stantianyifidentical one-picfdrum heads "each portion, a cylindrical shouldered p6rt1on and "a radial flange, and a 'one' piec'ej molde'd,fplastic rim-comprising a by; body, ar'if'integral; circuinferentially eii' f outwardly projecting" earn retaining "rail; and a plurality of integral inwardly projecting, axially extending ribs terminating in spaced relation from the ends of the cylindrical body, the ends of the body beyond the ribs being seated upon said cylindrical shouldered portions of the heads, and securing means extending through the annular disk portions of the heads into the ends of the ribs, holding the heads and rim together in a unitary structure.

10. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft, a one-piece, molded rim having an outwardly projecting card retaining rail, a

clutch ring projecting into the interior of the rim,'

of increased thickness as compared to the remainder of the rim and shaped to provide on the inner surface thereof a plurality of radially ex-- tending pockets, a circumferential flange associated with said ring closing one end of each Fpocket, a plurality of spaced, inwardly projecting axially elongated ribs extending from the flange toward the other end of the rim, a drum head "journalled on the shaft at one end of the rim connected to the ribs, and another drum head coaxial with the shaft at the other end connected to the ribs and closing the other ends of the pockets, a clutch core restrained against rotation on the shaft within the ring, and a roller disposed within each recess and confined therein by the flange and adjacent drum head, respectively, and engageable with the core.

11. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft, a one-piece cylindrical rim member having an integral card retaining rail on its periphery and an integral, circumferentially extending, inwardly projecting ring in its interior, having outwardly extending radial pockets formed therein, open at one of their ends, and closed at the other, a pair of drum heads secured to the ends of the rom, one of said heads closing the open ends of the pockets, a clutch core restrained against rotation on the shaft within and opposite the ring and a plurality of clutch elements in said pockets making oneway clutch connection with the core.

12. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft, a one-piece cylindrical rim member having an integral card retaining rail on its periphery and an integral, circumferentially extending, inwardly projecting ring in its interior, having outwardly extending radial pockets formed therein, open at one of their ends and closed at the other, a pair of drum heads secured to the ends of the rim, one of said heads closing the open ends of the pockets, a clutch c'ore journalled for frictionally restrained rotation on said shaft within and opposite to said ring and having a plurality of inclined surfaces on its periphery, and a plurality of clutch elements in said pockets cooperating with the clutch core and making a one-way clutching engagement therewith.

13. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft, a one-piece cylindrical rim member having an integral card retaining rail on its periphery and an integral, circumferentially extending, inwardly projecting ring in its interior, having outwardly extending radial pockets formed therein, open at one of their ends and closed at the other, a pair of drum heads secured to the ends of the rim, one of said heads closing the open ends of the pockets, clutch core frictionally restrained against rotation on said shaft and positioned interiorly of the rim opposite said ring, said core having a by said inclined surfaces upon rotation of the rim in one direction and to engage said abutment shoulders upon rotation in the other direction.

14. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft, a one-piece, molded, plastic rim member having an integral card retaining rail on its periphery, a circumferential, inwardly projecting, integral clutch ring in its interior having outwardly extending radial pockets molded therein, open at their outer axial ends and closed at their inner axial ends, and a plurality of integral axially extending ribs running from the circumferential ring toward the opposite end of the rim, a pair of drum heads, one secured to the ring and closing the open ends of the pockets and the other secured to the ends of the ribs, a clutch core restrained against rotation on the shaft, inwardly of and aligned with the clutch ring, and means permitting rotation of the rim and ring in one direction relative to the core but preventing such relative rotation in the other.

15. A rotary filing drum assembly comprising a stationary shaft, a onepiece, molded, plastic rim member having an integral card-retaining rail on its periphery, a circumferential, inwardly projecting clutch ring in its interior spaced from the end of the rim a predetermined distance and having outwardly extending radial pockets open at their outer axial ends and closed at their inner axial ends, and a plurality of integral axially extending ribs running from the ring toward the remote end of the rim, and terminating in spaced relation therefrom a distance equal to said predetermined distance; a pair of drum heads journalled for rotation coaxially of the shaft, each comprising a central disk portion, a cylindrical shouldered portion having an axial length equal to said predetermined distance and a radially projecting peripheral flange, one of said heads being secured to the rim adjacent the ring, closing the open ends of the pockets and having the rim end seated upon the cylindrical shoulder thereof, the other head being secured to the rim adjacent the ends of the ribs, with the latter rim end seated upon the cylindrical shoulder thereof, a clutch core restrained against rotation on the shaft, inwardly of and aligned with the clutch ring, and means permitting rotation of the rim and ring in one direction relative to the core but preventing such relative rotation in the other.

RICHARD P. SCHOLFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Scholfield et al. July '7, 1936 Number 

